48 “Albania Plan—Meeting between Abdyl Sula and State Department and OSO Representative,” BGFIEND documents, April 28, 1949.
49 “Proposal to Overthrow Present Regime in Albania,” BGFIEND documents, January 11, 1949.
50 “Albania Plan—Meeting between Abdyl Sula and State Department and OSO Representative,” BGFIEND documents, April 28, 1949.
51 Ibid.
52 “The Albanian Operation,” BGFIEND documents, March 21, 1949.
53 “Plan for Albania,” BGFIEND documents. June 15, 1949.
Chapter 3: Genesis of Operation Fiend
1 “Proposal to Overthrow Present Regime in Albania.”
2 Kim M. Juntunen, “US Army Attachés and the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939: The Gathering of Technical and Tactical Intelligence,” (The Defense Technical Information Center, May 4, 1990), 16–17.
3 “Proposal to Overthrow Present Regime in Albania.”
4 Barry had been the director of the State Department’s Office of African, South Asian and Near East Affairs, since 1947.
5 “Albania: Possibility of Overthrowing Present Regime,” BGFIEND documents, May 27, 1949.
6 Ibid.
7 “The Albanian Operation,” BGFIEND documents, March 21, 1949.
8 “History of OPC/EE-1,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
9 “The Albanian Operation,” March 21, 1949.
10 “Memorandum of a Conversation with Mithat Frasheri,” BGFIEND documents, April 30, 1949.
11 “Memorandum of a Conversation with Ahmet Zogu,” BGFIEND documents, May 5, 1949.
12 “Memo for the record of Conversations with King Zog,” BGFIEND documents, June 17, 1949.
13 “Outline for Operational Plan for Albania,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
14 Grose, Operation Rollback, 155.
15 James McCargar, interview by Jr. Thomas McNiff, McCargar Collection, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, May 2, 1985.
16 “Project BGFIEND,” BGFIEND documents, July 1, 1949.
17 Stanley Weintraub, 11 Days in December (New York: Free Press, 2006), 7–8.
18 Felix [McCargar], A Short Course in the Secret War, 280.
19 “Meeting on Albania,” BGFIEND documents, May 4, 1949.
20 “Project Outline BGFIEND,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
21 “Operation Valuable,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
22 Ibid.
23 Ibid.
24 “Albania,” BGFIEND documents, May 23, 1949.
25 “Reasons for Conducting OPC Albanian Operation on Joint Basis with British,” BGFIEND documents, July 11, 1949.
26 Ibid.
Chapter 4: The National Committee for Free Albania
1 “A Look Back . . . The National Committee for Free Europe, 1949,” CIA.gov. May 29, 2007.
2 Stephen Dorril, MI6: Inside the Covert World of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service (New York: Free Press, 2000), 373.
3 Felix [McCargar], A Short Course in the Secret War, 280.
4 “Memorandum of 27 September 1949,” BGFIEND documents, September 27, 1949.
5 “Conference with [REDACTED] on 16 and 17 September 1949 re Albanian operation,” BGFIEND documents, October 3, 1949.
6 Ibid.
7 “Offie’s Memo, 6 July 1949,” BGFIEND documents, July 6, 1949.
8 “Summary of MacLean Profiles for Albanian Politicians,” BGFIEND documents.
9 Pearson, Albania in the Twentieth Century, vol. III, 351; Nicholas Bethell, Betrayed (New York: Time Books, 1984), 58.
10 John Prados, Safe for Democracy (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2006), 61; Bethell, Betrayed, 59.
11 “Telecon Conference,” BGFIEND documents, July 24, 1949.
12 “Translation of French text handed Colonel Fiske by emissary of Yarborough,” BGFIEND documents, July 26, 1949.
13 “The Albanian Operation,” BGFIEND documents, March 21, 1949.
14 “Danger of GNA continuing pursuit of guerrillas across Albanian border,” BGFIEND documents, July 21, 1949.
15 “Memo from B.Y. Berry to General Van Fleet and General Jenkins,” BGFIEND documents, July 25, 1949.
16 “Aide-Memoire 21 July 1949,” BGFIEND documents, July 21, 1949; “Memorandum,” BGFIEND documents, July 27, 1949; and “Letter to Pilgrim,” BGFIEND documents, August 10, 1949.
17 “NCFA Declaration,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
18 “Free Albania Unit Named,” New York Times (1923–Current file), August 27, 1949.
19 “Memorandum of 27 September 1949,” BGFIEND documents, September 27, 1949.
20 “Text of proposed telegram to US diplomatic missions,” BGFIEND documents, August 25, 1949.
21 “Letter to Pilgrim,” BGFIEND documents, August 10, 1949.
22 “Memo of 2 September 1949,” BGFIEND documents, September 2, 1949.
23 Prados, Safe for Democracy, 61.
24 Ibid.
25 The Cost of Treachery, BBC, 1984.
26 Amery, Sons of the Eagle, 96.
27 “Albanian Operation—Activities of Personnel of the Committee for Free Albania,” BGFIEND documents, November 15, 1949.
28 “Memorandum of Meeting 10 September 1949,” BGFIEND documents, September 12, 1949.
29 “Albanian Operation—Activities of Personnel of the Committee for Free Albania,” BGFIEND documents, November 15, 1949.
30 “Conversations with Albanian Leaders in the United States,” BGFIEND documents, October 4, 1949.
31 “Midhat Frasheri, Albanian Ex-Aide,” New York Times (1923–Current file), October 4, 1949.
32 “Telegram from Middle East,” BGFIEND documents, November 3, 1949.
33 “Meeting of Joint Policy Committee,” BGFIEND documents, November 3, 1949.
34 “Meeting with Lord Jellicoe and Mr. Joyce,” BGFIEND documents, November 12, 1949.
35 “Telegrams 1, 2, 3,” BGFIEND documents, November 18–19, 1949.
36 McCargar interview, 1985.
37 Ralph Blumenthal, “Axis Supporters Enlisted by US in Postwar Role,” New York Times (1923–Current file), June 20, 1982.
38 “Albanian Operation—Activities of Personnel of the Committee for Free Albania,” BGFIEND documents, November 15, 1949.
Chapter 5: Philby in Washington
1 “Memorandum of 21 September 1949,” BGFIEND documents, September 21, 1949.
2 “Memorandum of 28 October 1949,” BGFIEND documents, October 28, 1949.
3 Kim Philby, My Silent War: The Autobiography of a Spy (New York: Modern Library, 2002), 153.
4 Felix [McCargar], A Short Course in the Secret War, 282–284.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.
8 Philby, My Silent War, 146.
9 “Harold ‘Kim’ Philby and the Cambridge Three,” NOVA, PBS/WGBH, January 2002.
10 Robert L. Benson, “The Venona Story,” NSA.gov. January 15, 2009.
11 Philby, My Silent War, x.
12 Ibid., 10.
13 Ibid., 204.
Chapter 6: First Infiltrations of 1949
1 Dorril, MI6, 371.
2 Philby, My Silent War, 154.
3 “Conference with [REDACTED] on 16 and 17 September 1949 re Albanian operation,” BGFIEND documents, October 3, 1949.
4 “Operation Valuable,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
5 “Greek Knowledge of Albanian Operation,” BGFIEND documents, August 6, 1949.
6 “Transmittal of BGFiend Documents,” BGFIEND documents, April 12, 1950.
7 Bethell, Betrayed, 67–68.
8 Robert Lacey, Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008), 169.
9 Bethell, Betrayed, 61.
10 “Operation Valuable,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
11 “Transmittal of BGFiend Documents,” April 12, 1950.
12 “Operation Valuable,” n.d. Currency conversion based on calculator at www.fxtop.com. Conversion to today’s dollars based on the website US Inflation Calculator at www.usinflatio
ncalculator.com.
13 “Memorandum of 27 September 1949,” BGFIEND documents, September 27, 1949.
14 “Albanian Operation—Fate of VALUABLE Teams in Albania Ref. SO DB-20024,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.; “Albanian Operation—Fate of VALUABLE Teams in Albania SO DB-20064,” BGFIEND documents, November 4, 1949.
15 Ibid.
16 Thomas, The Very Best Men, 39.
17 “Report of Interview between Colonel Smiley and Zotos,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
18 “Albanian Operation—Fate of VALUABLE Teams in Albania Ref. SO DB-20024,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.; “Albanian Operation—Fate of VALUABLE Teams in Albania SO DB-20064,” BGFIEND documents, November 4, 1949.
19 Bethell, Betrayed, 92.
20 Ibid., 75.
21 Felix [McCargar], A Short Course in the Secret War, 284.
22 Genrikh Borovik, The Philby Files (New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1994), 262.
23 McCargar interview, 1985.
24 “Albanian Operation—Albanian IS Activities in Connection with the Committee for Free Albania,” BGFIEND documents, December 21, 1949.
25 “Albania Seeks to Resume Trade with Italy,” CREST Database, July 19, 1950.
26 “Albanian Operation—Fate of VALUABLE Teams in Albania Ref. SO DB-20024.”
27 “Employment of Albanian Refugees for Intelligence Purposes,” BGFIEND documents, February 21, 1949.
28 “Procesi i Tiranes,” Gazeta Shqiptare, May 14, 2012.
29 Sarah-Jane Corke, “US Covert Operations and Cold War Strategy: Truman, Secret Warfare and the CIA, 1945–53,” Studies in Intelligence (London and New York: Routledge, 2008), 93; “Procesi i Tiranes,” Gazeta Shqiptare, May 14, 2012.
30 “Report of Interview between Colonel Smiley and Zotos,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
31 “Memorandum of 27 September 1949,” BGFIEND documents, September 27, 1949.
32 “Draft Memorandum of 21 October 1949,” BGFIEND documents, October 21, 1949.
Chapter 7: Reevaluation of Project Fiend
1 “Albanian Operation—Fate of VALUABLE Teams in Albania Ref. SO DB-20024,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.; “Albanian Operation—Fate of VALUABLE Teams in Albania SO DB-20064,” BGFIEND documents, November 4, 1949.
2 Felix [McCargar], A Short Course in the Secret War, 124.
3 “Meeting of the Joint Policy Committee for Operation BGFIEND,” BGFIEND documents, November 21, 1949.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
7 “Transmittal of BGFiend Documents,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
8 “Fiend-Valuable 25 September 1951,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
9 “Memorandum on FIEND-VALUABLE Operation,” BGFIEND documents, December 6, 1949.
10 Cyrus L. Sulzberger, “West Held Easing Stand on Albania,” New York Times (1923–Current file), March 27, 1950.
11 “OPC Cable 1424,” BGFIEND documents, March 28, 1950.
12 Felix [McCargar], A Short Course in the Secret War, 93.
13 “Meeting on FIEND on 27 February 1950,” BGFIEND documents, March 1, 1950.
14 “OPC Liaison with Other Intelligence Services,” BGFIEND documents, March 7, 1950.
15 “Intelligence Operations against Albania from Italy and Greece,” BGFIEND documents, May 3, 1949.
16 “E vranë apo e helmuan Alush Lleshanakun?” Zeri Yt! Media Sociale Shqiptare, April 16, 2011.
17 Agim Gashi, “Ja e vërteta për vrasjen e deputetit Bardhok Biba,” Akllapi Net, September 6, 2009.
18 They were Preng D. Kola from Oroshi, Pjetër D. Vila from Kaçinarri, Dod M. Biba from Malaj, and Pjetër Paloka from Kaçinarri.
19 They were: Llesh Mëlyshi, Nikoll Bardhok Bajraktari, Bardhok Dod Lleshaj, Gjergj Keq Beleshi, Dod Marka Biba from Kthella; Ded Preng Gjomarkaj, Nikoll Llesh Nikolli, Preng Shkurti, Gjin Kaçi, Ndoc Gjet Palaj, Frrok Mata, Marka Ndrec Marku, Ded Paloka and Zef Vila from Mirdita.
20 Agim Gashi, “Postvrasja e deputetit Bardhok Biba/Përkujtohet 60-vjetori i vrasjes së 14 burrave,” Akllapi Net, September 6, 2009.
Chapter 8: Labor Services Company 4000
1 Gratian M. Yatsevitch III, interview with author, July 1, 2013.
2 "Harvard University's Obituary and Death Notice Collection," Genealogybuff.com, January 18, 2011.
3 Colonel Gratian M. Yatsevitch, interview by William Burr, Iranian-American Relations Oral History Project, November 5, 1988.
4 Gratian M. Yatsevitch III, interview.
5 Bethell, Betrayed, 144.
6 “OPC Plans and Operations in Albania,” BGFIEND documents, May 17, 1950.
7 Gratian M. Yatsevitch III, interview.
8 Michael Burke, Outrageous Good Fortune (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1984), 121.
9 Burke, Outrageous Good Fortune, 123.
10 Ibid., 141.
11 Ibid., 135.
12 Ibid., 140.
13 Ibid., 145.
14 Ibid., 147.
15 Ibid.
16 Ibid., 143.
17 “Memorandum of Understanding on Establishment of Pixie Base in Germany,” BGFIEND documents, January 31, 1951.
18 Walter Elkins, “Labor Service Division List of Units,” US Army in Germany, February 20, 2013.
19 Siegbert Mann, “Labor Service Einheiten (Units),” History of the US Force in Germany: Labor Service and Civilian Support Organization, February 20, 2013.
20 “Letter to Chief of Mission in Frankfurt,” BGFIEND documents, August 14, 1953.
21 “Alleged AIS Training Camp for Albanian Agents at Munich,” BGFIEND documents, December 10, 1951.
22 “Loeb Estate Covert Site,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
23 “Memorandum for the Record,” BGFIEND documents, July 21, 1952.
24 “Brief Summary of Medical Activities in HBBASIS from May 15 to 1 September 1951,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
25 “Memorandum for the Record,” BGFIEND documents, July 21, 1952.
26 “Alleged AIS Training Camp for Albanian Agents at Munich,” BGFIEND documents, December 10, 1951.
27 “Cable FRAN 9580,” BGFIEND documents, December 13, 1952.
28 “Albania Deception Operation,” BGFIEND documents, November 13, 1954.
Chapter 9: Odyssey of the First CIA Paramilitary Team
1 “Meeting in Frankfurt on BGFIEND,” BGFIEND documents, May 2, 1951.
2 “Relations between CHARITY and BGFIEND,” BGFIEND documents, August 21, 1950.
3 “Discussions of 9 May 1950,” BGFIEND documents, May 11, 1950.
4 “Relations between CHARITY and BGFIEND.”
5 “CIA Information Report No 00-B-8501-49,” BGFIEND documents, n.d. F meant that the source reliability could not be judged; 6 meant that the veracity of content could not be judged. OSO used the following rating of source reliability: A=Completely Reliable; B=Usually Reliable; C=Fairly Reliable; D=Not Usually Reliable; E=Not Reliable; F=Cannot Be Judged. OSO used the following rating of content veracity: 1=True; 2=Probably True; 3=Possibly True; 4=Doubtful; 5=Probably False; 6=Cannot Be Judged.
6 “Appraisal of Intelligence Material,” BGFIEND documents, January 4, 1951.
7 “Reconsideration of OSO’s Operations Against Albania,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
8 “Air Support Aircraft,” BGFIEND documents, June 9, 1950.
9 Michael Alfred Peszke, The Polish Underground Army, the Western Allies, and the Failure of Strategic Unity in World War II (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2005), 76.
10 “Composition of Polish Aircrew—BGFIEND,” BGFIEND documents, August 29, 1950.
11 “Events Leading up to the Premature Arrival of BGFIEND Covert Aircraft in Greece,” BGFIEND documents, October 9, 1950.
12 “Training of Pixies for BGFIEND,” BGFIEND documents, January 19, 1951.
13 “Resistance Situation,” BGFIEND documents, August 21, 1950.
14 “Report of Halil Nerguti,” BGFIEND documents, February 8, 1952.
15 “First Team Drop into HBPixie, 11–
12 November 1950,” BGFIEND documents, November 13, 1950.
16 “Report of Halil Nerguti,” BGFIEND documents, February 8, 1952.
17 Ibid.
18 Bethell, Betrayed, 157
19 Dashnor Kaloci, “Si na stërvisnin oficerët amerikanë në Gjermani,” Dashnor Kaloci Blog, February 20, 2013.
20 Nicholas Bethell, “Profits and losses of treachery,” Independent, September 6, 1994.
21 “First Operational Commo Flight—HBPixie,” BGFIEND documents, November 16, 1950.
22 “Report of Halil Nerguti,” BGFIEND documents, February 8, 1952.
23 Ibid.
24 Ibid.
25 “Letter from Red Team,” BGFIEND documents, April 24, 1952.
26 Ibid.
27 “CIA Museum Directorate of Science and Technology,” CIA.gov. July 23, 2012.
28 “25 October Report,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
29 “Debriefing of Pine Tree Team—Part I—BGFiend,” BGFIEND documents, July 7, 1952.
30 “Note to Military Junta on Situation of Red and Green Team Members Who Took Refuge in Yugoslavia,” BGFIEND documents, April 15, 1953.
31 Ibid.
32 “Cable DIR 03050,” BGFIEND documents, May 5, 1953.
33 “Cable 2306,” BGFIEND documents, May 9, 1953.
34 “Note to Military Junta,” BGFIEND documents, July 17, 1953.
Chapter 10: Philby’s Exit
1 “Fiend-Valuable 25 September 1951,” BGFIEND documents, n.d.
2 Philby, My Silent War, 159.
3 Ibid., 156.
4 Burke, Outrageous Good Fortune, 147.
5 Ibid., 152.
6 “Venona: Soviet Espionage and the American Response 1939–1957,” CIA.gov. March 19, 2007.
7 Benson, “The Venona Story,” 27.
8 Ibid., 20.
9 Philby, My Silent War, 170.
10 Ibid., 171.
11 Dorril, MI6, 396.
12 Philby, My Silent War, 184.
13 “Liaison with the British in Washington on Projects FIEND and VALUABLE,” BGFIEND documents, August 28, 1951.
Chapter 11: Propaganda and Psychological and Economic Warfare
1 “From ‘Sons of the Eagle’ to Michael Burke,” Burke Collection, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, n.d.
2 “Letter from Burke to Abaz Kupi,” Burke Collection, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, n.d.
3 Jon L. Lieb, interview with author, January 2014.
4 Hunt and Aunapu, American Spy, 46.
Operation Valuable Fiend Page 32
